Modular seat

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a modular seat for aircraft. The system has a frame that is able to be interconnected with other frames laterally. Since each lateral frame has the same pivot points (when viewed from the side), the linked seats rotate together. The seats also include buckle lugs which enable a particular seat to be used on either side of the aircraft.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claim priority to Provisional Patent Application No.62/554,288, filed Sep. 5, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosed system relates generally to the field of vehicle seating.More specifically, the invention relates to seating arrangementsconvertible into different states to accommodate different needs.

2. Related Art

Vehicle chairs have been known in the art to have the ability to foldout into a bed or like arrangements where the formerly upright back islowered to present a substantially level resting place for a passenger.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,303 to Garland discloses an articulatedsofa bed with a locking mechanism that may deploy into a bed or sofa.Garland also discloses the use of a torsional-hinge assembly thatincludes a torsional spring to apply a torque when in a folded positionand reduces the lifting force required during deployment.

U.S. Publication 2016/0325838 to Erhel discloses an aircraft divanconvertible into a bed. In Erhel a seat pan slides out and a seat backpivots down to lie flat and level. An intermediate or “slouched”position is also disclosed in Erhel.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,144,319 to Murphy et al. discloses a seating unit havinga foldable bed. The Murphy seating unit has a base with an internalcavity for storing an intermediate section and a seat section inside thebase. Two different linkages have springs for assisting with folding andunfolding.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,702 to Pilarczyk et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,669 toFefferman, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,236 to Smythe each also disclosearrangements where seats are converted into beds.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a modular seating system. In some embodiments, a first seatframe and a second seat frame each including a base which is configuredto be selectively securable to an aircraft floor, a removable commonlinking member spanning across and fixed to each of the first and secondframes; the first and second frames being configured to move togetherbetween a first mode and a second mode upon the administration of aforce applied to only the first frame, and the linking member causes thesecond frame to move in concert with the first frame when transitioningbetween the first and second modes. Sometimes each of the first andsecond frames include a translatable seat portion supported by eachbase, and the common linking member is secured across the front of eachof the translatable seat portions for the first and second frames.Optionally, the common linking member is a bar that is receivable intoreceptacles formed into each of the first and second translatable seatportions, the bar, when secured, causing the seat portions to solelyconnect the first and second frame members.

In some versions, a release system is used that has a handlemechanically connected to a pin, actuation of the handle resulting inthe pin being unseated from an aperture created in the first seat baseenabling a forward translation of the first translatable seat portion.Sometimes the first and second seat portions each have a glide-guidingarrangement comprising front and rear glide tracks created between thefirst and second seat portions and first and second frames respectively,the glide-guiding arrangement terminating forward movement of the firstand second seat portions using one of a forward track end and a reartrack end.

In some versions the seats have backs. More specifically, the seat backsinclude an upper pair of laterally opposed seat-back beamsinterconnected by some transversely-extending members; a lower pair oflaterally opposed seat-back beams interconnected by othertransversely-extending members, a lower portion of each of the lowerbeams being pivotally connected to a rear portion of the translatableseat portion; a first pair of laterally opposed arms togetherpresenting: (i) a first pivot point at a back upper fixed point on thechair base; (ii) a second pivot point near a middle area of each lowerbeam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lower portion of the upperbeams; and a second pair of laterally opposed arms creating a lowerpivot between an upper portion of each of the upper beam members, and anupper pivot between an upper portion of the upper beam and an upperportion of the lower beam.

In embodiments the first mode enables the first and second frames tosupport one or more cushions in a seating position, and the second modeenables the first and second frames to support the one or more cushionssuch that they present a substantially horizontal resting surface for abed.

In some embodiments the seat has a frame removably attachable from afloor of the aircraft; a first set of seat belt lugs on the frame, eachincluding an aperture, the apertures configured to receive the pins of aset of seat belts; a second set of seat belt lugs on the frame, eachincluding an aperture for receiving the set of seat belts; and the firstset of seat belt lugs being oriented at a first angle accommodating theuse of the set of seat belts when the seat is installed on a first sideof the aircraft, and the second set of seat belt lugs being oriented ata second angle accommodating the set of seat belts when the seat isinstalled on a second side of the aircraft. Sometimes the seat istransformable between a first upright mode and a second collapsed bedmode. Other times lugs are located such that when the seat istransformed into bed mode an attached seat-belt set is stowableunderneath a cushion system existing above the frame.

In other embodiments, a system is disclosed for supporting an aircraftoccupant, the system including a frame, the frame being convertible froman upright seat mode into a bed mode. In some versions the frame has: abase which is configured to be secured to an aircraft floor; atranslatable seat portion configured to be moved in and out; and a seatback portion mechanically connected to the translatable seat portion andconfigured to collapse on a plurality of hinge points when thetranslatable seat portion is moved out. Sometimes a linking memberwhich, when installed, spans between and connects the frame to a secondsubstantially similar frame. Optionally the frame and the substantiallysimilar frame are both actuated by a release system coupled with anadministration of a force applied to the translatable seat portion ofone of the frame and the substantially similar frame. In some versions,the linking member, after actuating the release system, causes thesubstantially similar frame to move in concert with the first frame whentransitioning between the seat and bed modes. In embodiments theplurality of hinge points of the frame are substantially axially in linewith the plurality of hinge points of the substantially similar frame,allowing the frame and substantially similar frame to move together in across sectional frame.

In some versions each of the frame and substantially similar frame havea seat back, the seat back comprising: an upper pair of laterallyopposed seat-back beams interconnected by some transversely-extendingmembers; a lower pair of laterally opposed seat-back beamsinterconnected by other transversely-extending members, a lower portionof each of the lower beams being pivotally connected to a rear portionof the translatable seat portion; a first pair of laterally opposed armstogether presenting: (i) a first pivot point at a back upper fixed pointon the chair base; (ii) a second pivot point near a middle area of eachlower beam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lower portion of theupper beams; and a second pair of laterally opposed arms creating alower pivot between an upper portion of each of the upper beam members,and an upper pivot between an upper portion of the upper beam and anupper portion of the lower beam.

In some embodiments the frame configured to, when introduced into bedmode, support a cushion arrangement such that a substantially horizontalresting area is presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the seat of the disclosed embodiments including cushions;

FIG. 2 shows a three-seat modular frame embodiment in an uprightposition with the cushions removed;

FIG. 3 shows a rear-view of the FIG. 2 embodiment from behind where theseats are in the upright position;

FIG. 4 shows the front perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 2where the seats are collapsed;

FIG. 5A show a side view of the seat frame in the chair upright mode inthe FIG. 2 upright position;

FIG. 5B shows a side view of the seat frame in a middle position betweenthe upright chair and bed modes;

FIG. 5C shows a side view of the seat frame in the collapsed bed mode;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view revealing the details of the pinrelease system;

FIG. 7A shows a front view of the FIG. 2 embodiment in the uprightstate;

FIG. 7B shows a front view of the FIG. 2 embodiment in the collapsedstate;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view including fasteners used to secure thebar between the plurality of chairs;

FIG. 9 shows a bar connection made between two seat frames as well asthe portions of the release arrangement existing on the side of the seatframe;

FIG. 10 shows a side cross sectional view of the handle and othercomponents of the release system;

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the release systems of the middle chair inthe FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows the middle chair of the FIG. 2 embodiment removed from thetabs on the floor of the vehicle;

FIG. 13 shows the details regarding the pins and mounting tabs used tosecure the chairs to the floor of the vehicle; and

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional showing the frame with cushions in bedmode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a seating arrangement for aircraft. The arrangementincludes both front and back cushions 102 and 104, which can be seen inFIG. 1. FIGS. 2-13 show a modular frame system 106 with cushions 102 and104 removed. Frame system 106 includes a rigid support base 107comprising forward 108 and rearward 110 laterally opposed V-shapedsupport members (see FIGS. 2 and 5) which depend down from the base 107and support an upper horizontal frame 109 on which a seat will glideforward as will be discussed hereinafter.

The seat system is attached to the floor of the vehicle as follows. Eachmodular frame included in the frame system 106 includes a base (e.g.,base 107) which is made to be removably attachable. Referring to FIGS. 2and 13, each base is mounted atop conventional tabs 112. Those in theart will recognize that these tabs have upwardly extending flanges 113which have apertures there-through (not shown) which correspond withapertures 114 (see FIG. 12) made through opposing flanges 115 foraccepting receiving quick-release pins 116 (see FIG. 13). Pins 116 areinsertable in through the apertures 114 when aligned with the aperturethrough flanges 113 and extend through to the opposite side to securethe frame to the tabs in a known manner, and can also be removed. Thus,when the pins are installed, the frame system 106 is secured to thefloor of the aircraft. Above the tabs 112, inverted triangular supports108/110 support an upper stationary frame portion 109. The describedattachment arrangement enables a user to easily install or remove theindividual modular chair sections 118, 120, and/or 122 as desired tocreate seating arrangements (e.g., rows having certain numbers ofchairs).

Once installed, the chairs forming a row, in embodiments, are coveredwith one or more cushions. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, the front and backseat cushions 102 and 104 our elongated laterally and shared between allthe seats, whereas the individual seat frame sections 118, 120, and 122are separable. But in alternative embodiments, separate rather thanintegrated cushions could be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, the three modular seats, 118, 120, and 122, areseparate units, but are connected by a linking lateral bar 124 that runsthrough a receptacles 133 (FIG. 11 shows this with the bar removed) madethrough the front of each of the seat platforms, 128, 130, and 132. Inthe disclosed embodiment, the receptacles 133 are at the forwardmost andoutermost portions of each individual seat frame. The receptacles 133have receiving mouths and substantially half cylindrical securementareas and thus, are configured to accept the bar 124. Bar 124 is securedtherein at each location by a fastener which, in the disclosedembodiment, is a bolt 127 that is received through a cross bore madethrough the hollow bar 124 (see FIG. 8). Identical (or similar) fastenerarrangements exist at each of the six receptacle locations 133 (one foreach side frame). More specifically, the bolt is installed from belowand through an upwardly extending bore (see FIG. 8) created in a bottomlip 129 in each channel 133, then through a roof 135 above the channel133. There, a recessed area receives and exposes the tip of the bolt 127so that a nut 137 can complete the securement. Alternatively, otherkinds of fastener arrangements could be used (e.g., screws). Asymmetrical fastening arrangement is created on each opposite side foreach of seat frames 118, 120, and 122.

The linking bar 124, once it is fixed in place, constitutes the entirephysical connection made between the three chairs. Because the threeseats 118, 120, and 122 are connected by the linking bar 124, they areall moved together (e.g., when viewed in the cross sections shown inFIG. 5A-C) when a conversion is made from a standing seat mode into abed mode as will be described hereinafter.

The modular aspects of the system provide the installer a variety ofseat size options since any number of the same chair can be installedbased on laterally available space. It is possible to use a single seatlike seat 120 (see FIG. 2) individually with front and back cushions 102and 104 modified (shortened) to fit. With such an arrangement, there isno need to use a bar 124, since the seat 120 has all of the releasemechanisms required, and there is no need to couple to a lateral seat.

A two-seat arrangement (e.g., using only seats 120 and 122) is also analternative arrangement. In this case, only one of the two seats wouldhave to have the release mechanisms. Additionally, linking bar 124 wouldhave to be properly shortened (from the length shown in the figures) toaccommodate the combined width of two seats. Alternatively, still, anynumber of seats in addition to three could be attached to a commonlinking bar if desired. This would, of course, require the lengtheningof the bar to extend to the combined number of chair widths.

All of the modular chair frames attached to the linking bar are able tobe locked in place into one of chair or bed modes, and then released tobe in the other mode. Because the fronts of the seats are linked, thereis only a need for a single release system. For example, in the FIG. 2embodiment, only middle chair 120 includes a release system. Chairframes 118 and 122 don't need them because they simply move along with,are locked in place, and released along with middle chair 120.

We will now discuss release system which is, in the disclosedembodiment, included wholly within the middle seat 120. The specificsregarding the release system for seat 120 are shown in FIGS. 11 through13. The system includes a handle 134 which accessed by a user byreaching underneath the front of cushion 102 (see FIGS. 1-2 and 10).Handle 134 is connected to, and when activated, rotates a rod 136. Therotation imparted into rod 136 from the handle 134 is imparted into alever arm 138. When lever arm 138 rotates, it creates tension in atension link 140 which is, at an opposite end, connected to a rocker142. Rocker 142 when pulled by link 140, pulls a release pin 144 (seeFIG. 6) out of an aperture 145 formed in the upper portion 107 of thestationary frame. When released, and optionally upon the introduction offorce by the user, the seat front 130 moves forward, and a seat back 146is moved from a first chair mode where the seat frame is in an uprightposition shown in FIG. 5 into a leveled second bed-mode position shownin FIG. 6. Because all of the seats 120, 122, and 124 are joined by thelinking bar 124, they will all move in concert maintaining commonrelative angular positions relative to the linking bar 124 (conceptuallyin a cross sectional sense, see FIGS. 5A-C). As a result, the back 104and seat 102 cushions are supported and move likewise. When the systemis fully deployed into bed mode, the frame supports the cushions 102 and104 such that they maintain a common upper surface that is substantiallyhorizontal (see FIG. 14), and thus, configured to accept the laying downby a user thereon.

Seat track arrangements 141 and 143 are used in guiding the seatportions to enable the upright and bed modes. More specifically, seatplatforms, 128, 130, and 132 are each able to slide forward (together)upon release using a forward pair of opposing tracks (symmetrical oneach side of each chair). Front tracking system 141 uses cam followers148 which protrude outwardly from both sides of the upper portion of thestationary frame base 107. The outwardly-protruding cam followers 148are received in and roll inside slots 150 formed in the outer framemembers 152 on each side, and integral with each of seats 128, 130, 132.The slot 150 extends longitudinally through the seat frame member. Whenthe seat is locked in the upright position shown in FIG. 5A, the camfollowers 148 are located at the forward-most position in the slot 150.When the seat is locked in the substantially-horizontal position shownin FIG. 5C, the cam followers 148 are located at the rearward-mostposition. During a mode change, the movement of the cam followers 148inside the slot 150 on each side of each chair member help guide theseat, with additional help from an oppositely-oriented cam followerarrangement at the back of each seat.

The tracking system 143 at the back of the seat is comprised of opposingsymmetrical slots 154 made in either side of the base portion 107 of thelower rigid frame. Opposing inwardly-extending cam followers 156,inwardly mounted on the seat platform frame, are received into theseslots 154 on each side of the seat frame. Thus, when the chair is in theupright position shown in FIG. 5A, these pins are in the rearward-mostlocations 157 of the slots 154 (concealed in FIG. 6, but slot positioncan be seen in FIG. 5C). And when the chair is in the collapsed positionof FIG. 6, the cam followers 156 are in the forward-most position 159 inthe slots 154 (slot position is barely visible in FIG. 5). The rearslots 154 are angled slightly upward so that the rear of the seatplatform will raise up slightly when the system is placed in bed mode.This helps the seat platform to become substantially level relative tothe collapsing back of the chair. The forward and rearward trackarrangements 141 and 143 allow for and guide the proper translation ofeach seat platform (e.g., platforms 128, 130, and 132), and result inthe leveling out of cushions 102 and 104.

The backs of the modular frames are capable of folding up to create asubstantially horizontal resting plane above the cushions 102 and 104.More specifically, during a move to the substantially horizontal (e.g.,bed) position, while the seat platform portions 128, 130, and 132 ofeach of modular frames 118, 120, 122 are translating forward asdescribed above, the rear-portions of the seats, 154, 156, and 158 arefolded up and down as shown by the transition from the state shown inFIGS. 5A-C. Assuming an initial position in chair mode (shown in FIG.5A) the frame moves into an intermediate mode shown in FIG. 5B. As theframe continues rotation, is terminates in the bed mode shown in FIG.5C.

Each of seat backs 154, 156, and 158 include an upper pair of seat-backbeams (e.g., beams 160 of middle seat 120), and a pivotally attachedrelative to a pair of lower seat-back beams 162 (see FIGS. 5A-5C). Theupper portions of the lower beams 162 are overlapped by and are locatedinside of the insides of the lower portions of the upper beams 160 (seealso FIG. 12 where a nested portion 201 of beam 160 is, when in chairmode, shown in FIG. 5A, included in a notched out area of beam 162). Thebeams 160 and 162 are coupled together by transversely connecting tubes163. Referring to FIG. 12, a first upper tube 205 and a second lowertube 207 are both fixed between the upper beams 160. Second tube 207exists (when in chair mode as shown in FIG. 12) in the nesting areacreated in the upper beam 160. A third tube 209 is fixed between thelower beams 162 and exists crosswise across the uppermost extent of thelower beams 162.

The beams 160 and 162 are also connected by outside arms 164 and 166.Arm 164 has a first pivot point 168 at one end made about a firstlocation of beams 160, and a second pivot point 170 made about an upperportion of beam 162. Arm 166 has three pivot points. A first pivot point172 is attached at a lower portion of the upper beam 160. A second pivotpoint 174 is made at a lower end of the beam 162. A third pivot point176 is made to a rigid backward extension 178 of the base frame 107.

The functional result of the above mechanical arrangement is that, uponrelease, both beams 160 and 162 translate forward while rotating in aclockwise direction while at the same time arms 164 and 166 rotateslightly in a counter-clockwise direction (relative to the views shownin FIGS. 5A-5C) such that beam 160 is laid on top of the other beam 162,and an upper surface 180 in the folded up position is created from whatwas the back of the upstanding beam 160 to provide a bearing surface forthe back cushion 104 so that both cushions together 102 and 104 define asubstantially horizontal resting surface 103 (see FIG. 14).

A gas spring damping pin 182 is pivotally mounted between a pivot 184 ona portion of the stationary frame 178 and a second pivot 186 (see FIGS.5A-5C) located on the lower beam 166 between the arm pivots 176 and 174.In FIG. 5 the gas spring is expanded when the chair back 156 is up, andis compressed between the stationary frame leg 110 (see FIG. 6) and thecounter-clockwise rotation of the lower beam 166 when the chair is movedfrom chair mode to bed mode. Thus, the gas spring pin 182 acts againstany angular rotation imposed during the folding up of the chair. Theresistance provided causes the movement between seat and bed positionsto be smooth, not abrupt.

Referring to FIG. 2, the system also includes a plurality of bearingbumpers 186, 188, and 190. Bumper 190 is located on the back side (seeFIG. 2) of flange 190, and will engage beam 162 (see FIG. 6). Bumper186, which is mounted on a portion 163 of the upper frame member 160(see FIG. 6), will engage a surface 165 on frame member 160. Bumper 188,when the seat back is collapsed, engages flange 192. The bumpers 186,188, 190, bear against reciprocating engagement surfaces beam 162, 165,and 192, cushion the frame members 160 and 162 against the base frame107 as well as against each other when the system is in the bedposition.

At the back of the stationary frame base seat platforms 128, 130, and132 (see FIG. 2), belt lugs are provided for receiving seat belts. Apair of opposed lugs 194 are angled in a first direction. Holes (e.g.,holes 215 in FIG. 13) are provided in each set of lugs (e.g., lugs 196)for receiving a pin arrangement (e.g., pin 213 in FIG. 13 for lug set194) are provided for when the seats are installed on the left side ofthe aircraft, and a separate pair of oppositely-angled lugs 196 areprovided for when the seats are installed on the right-hand side of theplane. Thus, belt configurations using pin attachment mechanisms can beattached to the lug sets (194 or 196) that allow for the proper seatlocation. This eliminates the need for separate right and left-hand sideseat designs.

The position of the lug sets 194 and 196 at the upper back edge 217 ofthe stationary rigid support base 107, more specifically above andbetween the rearward laterally opposed V-shaped support members 110,makes it possible to stow the belts underneath the cushions in acompartment (not shown) so that when the cushions are in the bedposition, the belts can be stowed underneath so as not to interfere witha prone passenger's comfort.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the spiritand scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative ratherthan restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisanmay develop alternative means of implementing the aforementionedimprovements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in thespecific order described.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a first seat frame anda second seat frame each including: (i) a base which is configured to beselectively securable to an aircraft floor, (ii) a translatable seatportion supported by the base, and (iii) a back portion; a removablecommon linking member spanning across to secure the translatable seatportions together; the translatable seat portions and back portions foreach of the first and second frames being configured to move togetherbetween a first mode and a second mode upon the administration of aforce applied to only the translatable seat portion of the first frame,the linking member causing the second translatable seat portion to movein concert with the first translatable seat portion when transitioningbetween the first and second modes.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thecommon linking member is secured across the front of each of thetranslatable seat portions for the first and second frames.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein the common linking member is a bar that isreceivable into receptacles formed into each of the first and secondtranslatable seat portions, the bar, when secured, causing the seatportions to solely connect the first and second frame members.
 4. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein the first translatable seat portion includes arelease system comprising: a handle mechanically connected to a pin,actuation of the handle resulting in the pin being unseated from anaperture created in the first seat base enabling a forward translationof the first translatable seat portion.
 5. The system of claim 4 whereinthe first and second seat portions each have a glide-guiding arrangementcomprising front and rear glide tracks created between the first andsecond seat portions and first and second frames respectively, theglide-guiding arrangement terminating forward movement of the first andsecond seat portions using one of a forward track end and a rear trackend.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein the seat backs of each of thefirst and second frame members comprise: an upper pair of laterallyopposed seat-back beams interconnected by some transversely-extendingmembers; a lower pair of laterally opposed seat-back beamsinterconnected by other transversely-extending members, a lower portionof each of the lower beams being pivotally connected to a rear portionof the translatable seat portion; a first pair of laterally opposed armstogether presenting: (i) a first pivot point at a back upper fixed pointon the chair base; (ii) a second pivot point near a middle area of eachlower beam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lower portion of theupper beams; and a second pair of laterally opposed arms creating alower pivot point at an upper portion of each of the lower beam members,and an upper pivot point on the upper beam at a location that is abovethe third pivot point created by the first pair of laterally opposedarms.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mode enables the firstand second frames to support one or more cushions in a seating position,and the second mode enables the first and second frames to support theone or more cushions such that they present a substantially horizontalresting surface for a bed.
 8. A seat for aircraft, the seat comprising:a frame removably attachable to from a floor of the aircraft; a firstset of seat belt lugs on the frame, each including an aperture, theapertures configured to receive the pins of a set of seat belts; asecond set of seat belt lugs on the frame, each including an aperturefor receiving the set of seat belts; the first set of seat belt lugsbeing acutely angled in a first direction accommodating the use of theset of seat belts when the seat is installed on a first side of theaircraft, and the second set of seat belt lugs being acutely angled in asecond direction accommodating the set of seat belts when the seat isinstalled on a second side of the aircraft.
 9. The seat of claim 8wherein the seat is transformable between a first upright mode and asecond collapsed bed mode.
 10. A system for supporting an aircraftoccupant, the system including a first frame, the first frame beingconvertible from an upright seat mode into a bed mode, the framecomprising: a base which is configured to be secured to an aircraftfloor; a translatable seat portion configured to be moved in and out;and a seat back including upper and lower portions, the seat back beingmechanically connected to the translatable seat portion, the upper andlower portions being configured to rotate together on a plurality ofhinge points thus collapsing to level the seat back when thetranslatable seat portion is moved out.
 11. The system of claim 10comprising: a linking member which, when installed, spans between andconnects the frame to a second frame, the second frame beingsubstantially structurally and functionally the same as the first frame.12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second frames are bothactuated by a release system coupled with an administration of a forceapplied to the translatable seat portion of one of the first and secondframes.
 13. The system of claim 12, and the linking member, afteractuating the release system, causes the second frame to move in concertwith the first frame when transitioning between the seat and bed modes.14. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of hinge points of thefirst frame are substantially axially in line with the plurality ofhinge points of the second frame, allowing the first frame and secondframe to move together when transitioning between the seat and bedmodes.
 15. The system of claim 11 wherein: the upper portion of the seatback includes an upper pair of laterally opposed seat-back beamsinterconnected by some transversely-extending members; the lower portionof the seat back includes a lower pair of laterally opposed seat-backbeams interconnected by other transversely-extending members, a lowerportion of each of the lower beams being pivotally connected to a rearportion of the translatable seat portion; a first pair of laterallyopposed arms together presenting: (i) a first pivot point at a backupper fixed point on the chair base; (ii) a second pivot point near amiddle area of each lower beam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lowerportion of the upper beams; and a second pair of laterally opposed armscreating a lower pivot point at an upper portion of each of the lowerbeam members, and an upper pivot point on the upper beam at a locationabove the third pivot point created by the first pair of laterallyopposed arms.
 16. The system of claim 10, the frame configured to, whenintroduced into bed mode, support a cushion arrangement such that asubstantially horizontal resting area is presented.